The first LED replacements for 60 W incandescent bulbs are now appearing on shelves in local stores across the United States. Although current U.S. law will phase out only 100 W incandescent bulbs in 2012, one can easily find replacements for incandescent bulbs of other wattages – 15, 25, 40, 60, and 75. The initial cost of the LED bulbs is relatively high, but they more than pay for themselves over time with their longevity and energy savings.

The LED bulb that has received the most attention so far is the AmbientLED Model 12E26A60, a 12.5 W, 800-lm replacement for 60 W incandescent bulbs made by Philips Lighting (Figure 1). It is similar in configuration to the bulb that won the U.S. Department of Energy’s first Bright Tomorrow Lighting competition, or L Prize. It was also declared a standout among the CFL and LED bulbs in lamp and ceiling fixture tests conducted by Consumer Reports magazine.